What are your first thoughts about Disneyland Shanghai?

[LittleDreamer]

I know that the majority of us, or maybe all, haven't been lucky enough to see Disneyland Shanghai in person yet, but thanks to Youtube and social media we are getting to see a lot of the park. Given what limited amounts you have seen what are your first thoughts about Disneyland Shanghai?

After watching some videos of people walking around the park and some photos one of the first things is how open it feels. At first I thought it was just the fact that the plants are still settling in and it would be a few years before they look as intended. Then I starting looking at aerial shots and noticed Disney included plenty of open space, especially in Tommorowland and in front of the castle. One would think that the space in front of the castle is for the finally viewing but there is a considerable viewing area built in. So there just seems to be a rather sizable park after you enter the park. Maybe the spaces are there for allow for future expansion but I shouldn't speculate.

As for attractions there are good videos of Buzz Lightyear, Carousel, Jetpacks, Peter Pan, Pirates, Tron, and Voyage to the Crystal Grotto. Let me run down them.

• Buzz - A nice update, but I did feel there was a "samey" feel to the rooms.
• Jetpacks - A slight change to the Dumbo ride just now your legs dangle. There has to be something the videos don't pick up because an imagineer seemed excited about this one.
• Peter Pan - I would love for the Magic Kindgom to get the quality this ride has. Keeps the feel of the original but updates much of it with better tech and technique.
• Pirates - I think this was Disney attempt to answer Forbidden Journey. Some amazing animatronics and great scenes. Sadly video can't capture the projection parts properly. This has me excited for what the Avatar boat ride might be like.
• Soaring - Nothing surprising here
• Tron - I love the look of this ride, but I love the aesthetic of Tron. Looking at it without the themeing it's a solid mostly indoor coaster with a different sort of ride vehicle that alters the experience. Honestly if it weren't for the ride vehicle I could see a Tron overlay working on Hyperspace mountain or Rocking Roller
• Crystal Grotto - This was a disappointment to me. The figures have a shininess I don't like and without proper care they will probably dull in the weather. There also seems to be considerable spacing between the scenes but considering the size of the boats I understand the need for this. I guess my disappointment is that I think the magic windows on Main Street do the scenes better.

I'm excited to see more of the park as more people go and hopefully get there in person one day.

 

[OKW Lover]

My first thought? Going!

 

[k5jm]

Going!!

 

[T_O]

I will never actually go, but it looks very nice. Dare I say, better than the original?

 

[JimmyV]

I know that this doesn't actually answer the question about first thoughts, but since there are some "going" responses, I figured I would add: "don't see myself going". For political, ethical and environmental reasons, I don't think I could ever convince certain members of my family to vacation in China, and to be honest , I am kind of in that mindset myself. Either way, if I did ever go all the way to China, I don't think I could ever be persuaded to give up a full day to go to a Disney park. Just not the way we roll when we visit foreign countries. Not the response anticipated on a Disney-centric Board, I know. But just being honest.

p.s.: Some of the stuff that I have seen online looks pretty cool.

 

[superme80]

It looks very cool. I would love to visit one day.

 

[Hunterr]

I'll probably never go. Sooo, that Tron ride needs a carbon copy created stateside.

 

[brich330]

Pretty park that I'll never get to see. I really wish we could get this version of pirate's at world and keep the original at land. Exchange Autopia for tron and while your at it get Mystic Manor from hkdl and put it adventure land. Then brace yourself for the crowd's.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Looks really cool, I was sorry to see the outside getting trashed like that, hope it's not an ongoing thing. I will most probably never get to see it (or any other non-US Disney park) in person, but can appreciate it from afar.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

First thought: I thought it looked really nice and some cool new attractions (especially Pirates)

Second thought: They get awesome Pirates and the Tron coaster and we get reduced hours and other budget cuts *sigh*

Third thought: it's a global company and this is a long term move and we will get Star Wars Land so buck up!

 

[disneysteve]

I would love to visit all of the international parks. Of them all, I think Tokyo DisneySea would be at the top of my list. Shanghai looks amazing, too. Some day, hopefully.

 

[ImDMous]

I will never get there but Tron and Pirates look really cool. Knott's Berry Farm has a Pony Express coaster with the same seating as Tron, it's fun but it's a VERY short ride. Would be cool to see more of this type. We loved ElecTRONica and were really sad to see it replaced.

 

[LittleDreamer]

Doh, I forgot one of the my bigger let downs from the Shanghai coverage, the mid day parade. I don't know if its the design, the soundtrack, the wide open space or maybe it is just that Festival of Fantasy has set the bar too high for me. I can say that, from the videos, the parade seems tame or slow to me. There just doesn't seem to be the right level of energy. Maybe they will tighten it up over the next month there did seem to be sizable gaps between sections. I do think they created some impressive pieces, such as Mulan's horse Khan. As always there is some things I would love to tweek. Such as the seagulls in front of the Nemo float I would love it if they were all chasing after a single crab and make there routine more of a slap stick dance to bring in more of their comic nature from the movie. Similarly with Mulan's lead I would love of they shrunk the flags slightly and allow them to do some more tricks with them.

 

[T_O]

Are you talking about this one?

I thought it looked amazing! Really jaw-dropping floats and great music. If it's another parade, please post a link because I haven't seen it.

 

[LittleDreamer]

Are you talking about this one?

Yep that's it. I'm even pretty sure that's the video where the girls pulls out a frozen dancer to fix her costume.

 

[Accident]

When I heard what shanghai was design wise during the d23 coverage last year I felt like I was 7 again about to go to WDW. Now that i've seening the videos coming out of what that made and I'm suddenly 4 jumping up and down yelling trying to figure out when I can get there.. i'm going to wait a little longer for more of the lands to be done since it sounded like at least a few woudln't be finished for opening but I will be gonig here...

I'm also rather upset at disney for the classic dumping ground that have made Orlando. If there is a 5th gate, I'm excepting the stuff we're seeing at shanghai to be the crappy rides...

 

[noubaguy]

After watching some videos of people walking around the park and some photos one of the first things is how open it feels. At first I thought it was just the fact that the plants are still settling in and it would be a few years before they look as intended. Then I starting looking at aerial shots and noticed Disney included plenty of open space, especially in Tommorowland and in front of the castle. One would think that the space in front of the castle is for the finally viewing but there is a considerable viewing area built in. So there just seems to be a rather sizable park after you enter the park. Maybe the spaces are there for allow for future expansion but I shouldn't speculate.

I believe the "openness" you are refering to was designed in anticipation of the crowds. Tokyo Disneyland/DisneySea are also very open and grand. Trust me, it won't feel so open when its reaching full capacity lol

I am also wishing some of the tech of their Pirates makes its way into our Avatar boat ride... but I fear it's going to end up being more like "Living With the Land" with pretty, glowing foliage. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[LittleDreamer]

I believe the "openness" you are refering to was designed in anticipation of the crowds.

The Gardens of Imaginations takes up a lot of ground and only holds two attractions and the large viewing area for castle shows. But even that viewing area is only a small part of the Gardens. I really wish I could find Disneyland Shanghai on google maps so I could make rough measurements. The garden looks almost 1.5 x 2 times the length of Mickey Avenue (Shanghai's Main Street). I realize Shanghai has Downtown Disney right outside the gates so that effected the size of their entrance street. There are other open space such as the green way on the entrance to Tommorowland. The back patio of of the Castle (which is actually the roof the crystal Grotto building) doesn't seem to have any purpose but looks rather large. .

Maybe Disney thought that the majority of their Chinese Guest were going to be from inner cities so they wanted to create a more natural park like feel that is just speculation though. I also believe a lot of other "theme parks" in China are much more compact. I know there are quite a few enclosed in a single large building so spreading out might help create a unique experience. Now that it is open I look forward to being able to talk more candidly with Imagineers about it.

 

[Tonyz]

Until they stop cutting cast members from Disney World and Disneyland to offset its price-tag, I'm firmly in the anti-Shanghai camp.

 

[brich330]

My second thoughts after watching all the shanghai coverage is simple. At this time Disney has very little interest in the domestic parks probably due to everyone still going no matter what shape there in. They're a business who's primary push right now is their very successful movie industry and their newest foreign investment. I wish things would change, but the reality is they will drag their construction out at WDW and DL to help there bottom line and endure the costs of there new investment. It sucks because I know it wont change. I'm sure when the lands are done, which due to shanghai were looking at 2020+, they will be amazing. I hate to be a debbie downer, but when I see so much investment and all we have seen is construction walls and next month a Frozen ride. Bob Iger has been absolutely wonderful for The Walt Disney company, but he has been absolutely horrible for WDW and DL theme parks. Had he invested in a Tron attraction, Getting Avatar land, Star wars land, and Toy Story land done faster instead of putting over billion dollars into data mining with Fast pass plus that would have been an amazing thing to see as a Disney Fan. I realize a lot of people will not agree with my opinion, but it is what it is.